CellarTracker
Encyclopedia
CellarTracker is a website
that stores information about wine
s and wine collections. Created in 2003 by Eric LeVine, a former Microsoft
program manager, CellarTracker has grown to be one of the world's most comprehensive wine databases. CellarTracker is free to use and relies heavily on its users for data input, constantly increasing the number of tracked bottles as well as user tasting notes.
CellarTracker also has a donation option which gives access to a series of services through CellarTracker's cooperation with other online resources, such as Stephen Tanzer, Wine Market Journal and Jancis Robinson.
, had made the program for himself, tracking his wine. Some friends suggested he launch the concept online which he did in 2004. The CellarTracker concept proved popular and over the years it out-paced other similar resources, such as Cork'd, while increasing cooperating with other wine-related services. An early contributor was US wine critic Stephen Tanzer
who offered his scores to donating members of CellarTracker. Other collaborations followed, the most notable being with Jancis Robinson
.
In early 2010, Eric LeVine launched a sister site for CellarTracker, called GrapeStories. GrapeStories rely on the same database as CellarTracker, but is intended to be a more user-friendly approach to tracking wine, sharing wine experiences as well as providing a better interface. LeVine was dissatisfied by the static interface in CellarTracker, and aimed at creating a more dynamic and engaging interface with GrapeStories. In December 2010 however, he announced his decision to abandon the GrapesStories rename, and keep the Cellartracker name on the new site. As of January 2011, the new CellarTracker is still in a beta state.
As of July 2010, CellarTracker has more than 110,000 user entries for 19 million individual bottles, and nearly 1.5 million wine reviews from users.
and, humorously, Paul Giamatti
, for his acting credit on the film Sideways
.
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
that stores information about wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
s and wine collections. Created in 2003 by Eric LeVine, a former Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
program manager, CellarTracker has grown to be one of the world's most comprehensive wine databases. CellarTracker is free to use and relies heavily on its users for data input, constantly increasing the number of tracked bottles as well as user tasting notes.
CellarTracker also has a donation option which gives access to a series of services through CellarTracker's cooperation with other online resources, such as Stephen Tanzer, Wine Market Journal and Jancis Robinson.
History
CellarTracker was created in 2003 after creator Eric LeVine, then a programmer at MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, had made the program for himself, tracking his wine. Some friends suggested he launch the concept online which he did in 2004. The CellarTracker concept proved popular and over the years it out-paced other similar resources, such as Cork'd, while increasing cooperating with other wine-related services. An early contributor was US wine critic Stephen Tanzer
Stephen Tanzer
Stephen Tanzer is an American wine critic, editor and publisher of thebimonthly International Wine Cellar since 1985, with particular expertise on the wines of Burgundy, Piemonte, California, Washington State, South Africa and Bordeaux....
who offered his scores to donating members of CellarTracker. Other collaborations followed, the most notable being with Jancis Robinson
Jancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com...
.
In early 2010, Eric LeVine launched a sister site for CellarTracker, called GrapeStories. GrapeStories rely on the same database as CellarTracker, but is intended to be a more user-friendly approach to tracking wine, sharing wine experiences as well as providing a better interface. LeVine was dissatisfied by the static interface in CellarTracker, and aimed at creating a more dynamic and engaging interface with GrapeStories. In December 2010 however, he announced his decision to abandon the GrapesStories rename, and keep the Cellartracker name on the new site. As of January 2011, the new CellarTracker is still in a beta state.
As of July 2010, CellarTracker has more than 110,000 user entries for 19 million individual bottles, and nearly 1.5 million wine reviews from users.
Concept
CellarTracker works by keeping track or "tracking" the users wine. The user is supposed to search for the wines in his cellar on CellarTracker's database and then enter amount of bottles and price (optional). If the wine doesn't already exist in the database, the user can create it himself, thus adding to the completeness of the CellarTracker database. When drinking a wine, the user marks the bottle as drunk and enters a tasting note (optional). The idea is that by having a large number of users generate tasting notes for other users to read, this helps guide the user in choosing the right wine to drink, buy etc. Thus, CellarTracker relies heavily on the users' input and willingness to add to the database.Partnerships
CellarTracker offers a multitude of services provided through cooperation with third parties. These include- Wine Market Journal - a wine auction trade list providing the latest auction results
- Stephen TanzerStephen TanzerStephen Tanzer is an American wine critic, editor and publisher of thebimonthly International Wine Cellar since 1985, with particular expertise on the wines of Burgundy, Piemonte, California, Washington State, South Africa and Bordeaux....
's International Wine Cellar - wine reviews - Jancis RobinsonJancis RobinsonJancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com...
- wine reviews - Allan Meadows' Burghound.com - wine reviews
- View from the Cellar - wine reviews
- For The Love Of Port - wine reviews
- Champagne Warrior - wine reviews
- The World of Fine Wine - wine reviews
- Vintage Tastings - wine reviews
- Gary VaynerchukGary VaynerchukGary Vaynerchuk is a video blogger, co-owner and director of operations of a wine retail store, and an author and public speaker on the subjects of social media, brand building and e-commerce. Vaynerchuk immigrated to the U.S...
's Wine Library TV - wine reviews - Burgundy Report - wine reviews
- Rockss and Fruit - wine reviews
- Sommelier Journal - wine reviews
- New York Cork Report - wine reviews
- Cellar Sensor - temperature and humidity monitoring system.
Awards
On January 4, 2010, Eric LeVine, founder of CellarTracker.com, was named the "Wine Person of the Decade" by user voting on popular wine blog, Dr. Vino.com . Other nominees included Gary VaynerchukGary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk is a video blogger, co-owner and director of operations of a wine retail store, and an author and public speaker on the subjects of social media, brand building and e-commerce. Vaynerchuk immigrated to the U.S...
and, humorously, Paul Giamatti
Paul Giamatti
Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti is an American actor. Giamatti began his career as a supporting actor in several films produced during the 1990s including Private Parts, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, The Negotiator, and Man on the Moon, before earning lead roles in several projects in the...
, for his acting credit on the film Sideways
Sideways
Sideways is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. Adapted from Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, Sideways follows two forty-something year old men, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to...
.